The Dialogue's Co-Chairs
H. E. Francis Kai-Kai
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone, co-Chair of the International Dialogue, and Chair of the g7+ group of fragile states.
Dr. Francis Mustapha Kai-Kai is the Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone with many years of service at both the national and international levels. As Minister of planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone, He assumes the Chair of the g7+ Group of Fragile and Conflict Affected states and Co-Chair of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding.
Dr. Francis Mustapha Kai-Kai, was previously Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations in New York. Prior to his appointment as the PR of Sierra Leone to the UN, Minister Kai-Kai spent 12 years as a senior United Nations staff member. From January 2016 to March 2018, he was Chief of Civil Affairs/Peace Consolidation Services in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), supporting the country’s integrity in natural resources management and economic governance, decentralization of services, local governance and peacebuilding. He was Field Crisis Adviser/Field Operation Manager in the United Nations Mission for Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) from December 2014 to June 2015. From March 2008 to July 2014, he was Chief of Civil Affairs in UNMIL, having served as Chief of the United Nations Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Section of UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) from 2005 to 2007. Preceding his United Nations career, Minister Kai-Kai coordinated the preparation of Sierra Leone’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and set up the Development Assistance Coordination Office in post war Sierra Leone. He served as Executive Secretary of the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration from 1999 to 2004.
Minister Kai-Kai holds a B.A. (Hons) degree from the University of Sierra Leone, and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in agricultural economics and development from universities in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively. Minister Kai-Kai is a recipient of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel (GCOR) Award for Service to Sierra Leone.
H.E. Harjit Sajjan
Minister of International Development and Minister Responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency, Canada, co-Chair of the International Dialogue.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan was first elected as Member of Parliament for Vancouver South in 2015. He served as Minister of National Defence from 2015 to 2021.
Minister Sajjan immigrated to Canada from India with his family when he was five years old. He grew up in South Vancouver and benefitted from everything the area’s diverse and culturally rich community has to offer.
Minister Sajjan has made serving others a cornerstone of his life. He is a former detective with the Vancouver Police Department, a former Lieutenant Colonel with the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), and a long-time advocate for youth education and mentorship programs.
For 11 years, Minister Sajjan was a member of the Vancouver Police Department, based primarily in South Vancouver. He completed his career as a detective with the gang crime unit. As a member of the British Columbia Regiment, he participated in four operational deployments – one to Bosnia and three to Afghanistan.